OTC meds

Going through my FAK for the upcoming hurricane season. What OTC meds do you stock up on? If we get another Katrina here Walgreen's definitely won't be open! Suggestions?

 

Sinus meds and pain relievers always seem to be in short supply once something goes down.

 

Perhaps a couple overlooked items are insect repellent and sunscreen. High % of DEET, and SPF vampire.

 

I'd grab some antacids and maybe other digestive system remedies. Stomach issues may crop up if you're having to live on so called "survival food" for an extended period. Some of those 72 hour emergency packs, from what I understand, can really cause digestive issues.

I'd also add antibiotic cream for those scrapes that tend to get dunked into the nasty water after a flood.

 

Great answers guys. Keep em coming!

 

Sudafed
Benedryl-capsules and cream
Ibuprofen
Tylenol
Rubbing alcohol
Witch Hazel
Hydrogen Peroxide
Tums
vaseline
vitamins
That is all I can think of without going to the cupboard and looking

 

I'd pick-up some Imodium anti-diarrheal med. Some rubber kitchen gloves and vinyl exam gloves. Hydrogen peroxide. Maybe some alcohol ( fifteen year old sounds good)

 

First and foremost have at least a 90 day supply of personal meds if your local area is wiped out all your records and finding a pharmacy is not always easy.
Ice chest I list this as a first item to hold protect and keep the rest dry and it will float.
Meds that require refrigeration either a 12 volt cooler, instant cold packs these are also good for sprains and injuries heat related illness, maybe a small thermal container to hold the cold for a small amount of meds the above cold packs will freeze for a bit so direct contact may not be a good idea.
nyquill, cough med DM type,
Benadryl used in allergies in the hospital
Tylenol for fever,
burn spray
Aspirin,
Lip balm
toothache med like Red Cross you never have a problem with a tooth or break a tooth until TSHTF
vodka instead of rubbing alcohol, rubbed on drops body temp also a drinkable pain reliever
Pepto Bismol
Salt and Epsom salt good for soaking and a tiny tiny pinch in water helps read on this.
bleach small bottle you can strain bad water boil and add bleach for cleaning wounds and large abrasions I have used bleach for poison Ivy and others pat on and let dry
bottle of dish soap emergency centers may not have any personal care items or first aid supplies.
Immodium grunts in the heat dehydrates and can kill if severe enough especially if very young or old.
Electrolyte solution. for the above malady.
saline solution for contact wearers good for emergency rinse for eyes and wounds sniff a bit to moisten sinus membranes.
Antibiotic ointment a few tubes is never too many
Normal large box of assorted band aids
Tampax and panty liners for sanitary wound dressings
medical tape paper tape is less irritating not hard to remove for small diameter areas like a ankle or wrist.
Ace Bandages makes good compression bandaging
Blanket and a tarp watching rescued people quivering leads me to think it's a good idea.

Storms produce serious injuries and help may not be able to get in for up to a New Orleans sabbatical, I do not mention New Orleans lightly there are still people in Mississippi waiting for help.

 

FAK?

 

A couple sam splints...try hard to keep things otc and not readily considered.
Magnifying glass to aid in debris/splinter removal.
Quality tweezers and hemostats.
Betadine solution, surgical sponges.
Eye cup, eye patches.

 

Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Acetaminophen
Loperamide (Imodium) - anti diarrheal
Meclizine (Antivert) - anti nausea
Triple antibiotic ointment
Hibiclens or Betadine - wound cleaning
Diphenhydramine (benadryl)
Hydrocortisone cream
Omeprazole and/or ranitidine (prilosec, zantac)
Cimetidine and/or Miconazole cream (lorimin, monistat) - anti fungal
Afrin (or generic) nasal spray
Pseudoephedrine (or equivalent) nasal decongestant
Potassium tablets - for cramps, spasms
Multi vitamins
Carmex lip balm - chapped lips, cold sores
Sunburn lotion with lidocaine
Lotion for chapped/working hands (O’Keeffe’s is good)
Toothpaste
Oil of clove or other topical dental numbing agent

AT

 

Sugar, Salt, Iodine, and Medical grade iodine soap. Make sure your liquid Iodine is at least 5 % or better, and have a couple of different size eye droppers to go with!

 

Many similar types of drugs, as listed above, are available here in Southeast Asia. The one difference is, just about any Scheduled Drugs, will be found to be available over-the-counter here. I'm talking even Scheduled II narcotics. I'm actually surprised that there isn't much more drug abuse here, than there is in the west.

Anyway, we keep a one-year to two-years supply of various medications on hand, from basics like tums, to scheduled II drugs, even pain killers and muscle relaxers. We keep a supply of syringes, needles and suture kits on hand, as well. (No, I have no idea how to use, or dispense most medications. But, I felt it best to have it on hand, if / when we did meet someone who was qualified to do so. Unfortunately, we have met very few medical personnel here whom we trust. So, I am in the air regarding what we would do if SHTF.) All of these items are kept in a safe here, although it really isn't necessary to do so. That's just me being cautious. As the medications get close to their respective expiry dates, we replace, then destroy them, even down to tums and antidiarrheal medications.

 

other than the ones already mentioned
cough syrup,
cough drops
get something for asthma, (epinephrine or ephedrine)
Guafenesein (for decongestant/ expectorant)

for sunburns you can't beat aloe from the leaf. its sticky and goopy but it works

The above words are linked to amazon so happy shopping

 

That's the one thing that bugs the heck out of me. Epi pens are not available here, anywhere. I would love be able to add a couple of those to our medical kit.

 

Guafenesin is an expectorant meaning that it helps loosen mucus so you can cough it up and out. Often sold mixed with a cough suppressant. Won’t help a stuffy nose as much.

 

If you can get the epinephrine in a vial, I've seen somewhere... must have been a youtube vid on making an Epi pen using a diabetic auto injector, happened around the time the company was threatening to raise the price of epi-pens thru the roof, must not have happened, I can still get them, need to check on the expiration dates thou.

Rancher

 

Not to be noisy
But how old are you?
Are you on any “full time meds/taking scripts?

Do you drink green or black tea daily / more than 24 oz per day?

Do you have high blood pressure/ ulcers?

Many OTC meds are affected by these things or impact you in different way owing to the background condition...